Compact spray device

• US 7,954,667 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2010
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Original Assignee: SC Johnson & Son Incorporated
• Inventors: Lemon, Leon M., Carpenter, M. Scott, Michaels, Kenneth W., Westphal, Nathan R., Gasper, Thomas P., Nelson, Cory J., Short, Michael E., Furner, Paul E., Madsen, Brent D., Kubicek, Chris A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shaver; Kevin P
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILLIAMS, STEPHANIE ELAINE
• Application Number:
  US12/796,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20100243673A1
• Time in Patent Office: 364 Days
• Field of Search: 222/64, 222/61, 222/62, 222/52, 222/638, 222/639, 222/642, 222/643, 222/644, 222/645, 222/646, 222/647, 222/648, 222/649, 222/504, 222/333, 222/402.13, 222/402.15, 239/69, 239/70, 239/333, 239/337
• US Class Current: 222/52
• CPC Class Codes: A01M 1/2038 Holders or dispensers for pressurized insecticide, e.g. pressurized vessels, cans
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/11 Apparatus for controlling air treatment
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/111 Sensor means, e.g. motion, brightness, scent, contaminant sensors
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 2209/134 Distributing means, e.g. baffles, valves, manifolds, nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: A61L 9/14 using sprayed or atomised substances including air-liquid contact processes
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 11/1053 combined with means, other than pressure, for automatically opening a valve during actuation; combined with means for automatically removing closures or covers from the discharge nozzle during actuation
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/02 for controlling time, or sequence, of delivery
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/12 responsive to conditions of ambient medium or target, e.g. humidity, temperature position or movement of the target relative to the spray apparatus B05B12/082, B05B12/084 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B05B 12/122 responsive to presence or shape of target B05B12/124 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B65D 83/262 by clockwork, motor, electric or magnetic means operating without repeated human input

Abstract

A method of operating a dispensing unit includes the step of providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein and an actuator arm. Other steps include activating the dispensing unit in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor and selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations. Yet another step includes moving the actuator arm after completion of a startup delay period from a pre-actuation position to a discharge position along a path substantially parallel to an axial length of the container to actuate a nozzle of the container to discharge a fluid from the container. The method also includes the step of alternating automatically between the sleep period having a duration commensurate with the selected sleep period interval and a discharge period during which the fluid is dispensed from the container.

Claims

1. A method of operating a dispensing unit, comprising:

providing a power source to a dispensing unit that includes a housing having an aerosol container disposed therein and an actuator arm;

activating the dispensing unit in response to a minimum threshold of light being sensed by a light sensor;

selecting a sleep period interval between spray operations;

moving the actuator arm after completion of a startup delay period from a pre-actuation position to a discharge position along a path substantially parallel to an axial length of the container to actuate a nozzle of the container to discharge a fluid from the container; and

alternating automatically between the sleep period having a duration commensurate with the selected sleep period interval and a discharge period during which the fluid is dispensed from the container.

2. The method according to claim 1 further including the step of manually activating the dispensing unit for the duration of the discharge period during the sleep period interval.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the dispensing unit is manually activated the sleep period interval is not reset, and the fluid is discharged during the automatic discharge period at the end of the sleep period interval.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the dispensing unit is manually activated by depressing a switch disposed on the housing.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the duration period comprises about a half of one second.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein the startup delay period ranges from about one minute to about three minutes.

7. The method according to claim 6, wherein the startup delay period is about one minute.